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Miami Ohio at Toledo Football Football Picks & Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd on November 17, 2008

A pair of 2-8 MAC teams face off Friday night and odds makers are expecting a tight matchup. Miami Ohio is coming off one of its best performances of the season against Ball State. Unfortunately for them, it was a 31-16 defeat to the 14th ranked Cardinals. Toledo will try to do something it hasn’t been able to do all season and that’s win at home. The Rockets are 0-4 at home this season but the odds makers feel that will end this week as they have listed Toledo as the 3-point favorite.

Without Redshirt freshman QB Clay Benton, who was injured in Miami’s 37-17 loss to Buffalo, the Redhawks turned the offense back over to Daniel Raudabaugh, who had lost his starting job to Belton. Raudabaugh did not disappoint as he passed for 254 yards but he was only able to get the Redhawks in the end zone once and that proved to be the difference as they settled for too many field goals. Miami had a golden opportunity to make things interesting in the fourth quarter, but wide open wide receiver Armand Robinson dropped a sure touchdown that would have got the Redhawks within seven. The loss was Miami’s third straight which dropped them to 1-5 in the MAC East standings. Miami’s defensive effort was excellent against Ball State. It shut out Ball State in the opening quarter, marking only the second time this season that the Cardinals’ offense has been held scoreless in the first quarter. Line backer Chris Shula played big, picking up six tackles and forcing a third quarter fumble that set up a field goal to get the Hawks within 1-point of the undefeated Cards. If it is a close game, you have to like putting the ball on the foot of Nate Parseghian to win it. He has been the steadiest offensive weapon for Miami this season and converted on all three of his attempts (39, 37 & 31 yards) against Ball State. Bet Miami Ohio at +3 at Bookmaker and receive a 20% cash bonus.

It was a better performance for 2-8 Toledo last week too, but the result was the same. A 27-17 setback to Western Michigan handed the Rockets their fourth straight loss. The Rockets put up some impressive offensive numbers, but it was not enough. Western Michigan is a good football team that beat the Big Ten’s Illinois the week before and the Rockets hung in with the Broncos right down to the wire. Like Miami Ohio, Toledo is also 1-5 in MAC play and both team’s know this is their chance to put another win on the board. The Rockets had trouble stopping WMU QB Tim Hiller who threw for 225yards and three scores. If Raudabaugh is as sharp as he was against Ball State, it could be a long day for the Rockets.

Since Toledo beat Michigan 13-10 in the Big House, they have lost four in a row, but they have been oh so close. A 24-23 loss to the 6-0 Central Michigan Chippewas shows you what this team is capable of but it has not caught many breaks. It will be important for Toledo to get its strong wide receiver tandem involved again this week. WR Nick Moore hauled in the most catches since his 20-reception game at Michigan with 10 catches for 97 yards last week and WR Stephen Williams set a new career-high with his eighth touchdown catch of the season. Williams is tied for fifth place on UT’s all-time list for touchdown receptions in a season. Running back Morgan Williams provides the balance. He paced the Rockets with 16 rushes for 83 yards in their last game. If you think the Rockets can get their first home win of the season, bet Toledo at -3 at Bookmaker.

Jimmy Boyd’s NCAA football picks are here to help you with your football betting from now through the BCS title game. Spend the rest of the season with Jimmy Boyd and have a lot more in your bankroll to show for it.
Check the football odds right here at Locksmith Sports each week.

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